Dr Christiane Northrup has some interesting insights into the emotional and energetic issues associated with ovarian cancer. Whilst it is impossible to generalize emotional and energetic responses, she highlights the issue of rage in ovarian cancers. She describes the ovaries as being ‘female balls’ which means they relate to an active participation in the world in a way that expresses our unique creative potential, as women, on an individual basis.

She says: “…we as women must be open to the uniqueness of our creations and their own energies and impulses, without trying to force them into predetermined forms. Our ability to yield to our creativity, to acknowledge that we cannot control it with our intellects, is the key to understanding ovarian power.” (p187, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom)

She relates the issue of rage as deriving from being in an abusive relationship – not necessarily physically abusive, though of course this could be the case. And it may not necessarily be a personal or intimate relationship. It could be with work, societal, or even spiritual. But it embodies a way of relating and dealing with something or someone, where the woman involved feels controlled by the situation and does not believe in her ability to change it, or herself. It is a denial of her innate power and self-sovereignty. A denial of a woman’s innate dignity, creativity, spirituality, and complexity.

Interestingly, Dr Northrup notes that ovarian cancer is linked to a diet high in fat and dairy food. Dairy products in Oriental medicine, are associated with the liver meridian. Meridians are energy conduits, and though they have a specific anatomy, they are not equated necessarily with the organs of the same name, as understood in conventional western medicine. The emotion associated with a liver meridian that is out of balance, is rage and anger.

Oriental medicine believes that diseases start in our energetic body first, and then progress to the physical body. And certainly not all women who have a high fat and high dairy diet develop ovarian cancer. Dr Northrup suggests that women take care of their ovaries and uterus by reclaiming and expressing whatever this deep creative energy is for them. She suggests taking the time to do this daily.

A recent scientific study has also found that drinking two cups or more of tea a day can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 46%. This study was done in Sweden over a 15 year period. Sweden is a country where there is a higher risk of ovarian cancer, as are other countries with a high dairy consumption (Denmark and Switzerland).

References:

[http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=64537]

Dr Christiane Northrup, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom (Piatkus, 1995)

In previous articles, we touched on various aspects of ovarian cancer such as symptoms, treatments (both alternative and conventional), and risks. But what are the stages of ovarian cancer?

The stages for ovarian cancer number 5, with stages I, II and III subdivided. Any discussion on stages must start with stage 0.

Stage 0 quite simply is the earliest stage that the cancerous cells have been detected at. The cancer is just forming and has not spread.

In stage I, the cancer is confined to either one or both ovaries and has not yet spread to other organs. This stage is divided into IA, IB, and IC.

In stage IA, the cancer is present inside one ovary. No cancer cells are present on the outside surface of the ovary or in the abdomen or pelvis. This is considered to be the earliest form of stage I cancer.

In stage IB, the cancer is present in both ovaries but there are still no cancer cells on the outer surfaces of the ovaries and none in the abdomen or pelvis.

Stage IC, is the most advanced form of stage I ovarian cancer. Cancer is present in either one or both of the ovaries. In addition, cancer cells may also be present on the outer surfaces of one or both ovaries. Cancer cells may have also been found in tissue samples from the abdomen.

In stage II, the cancer is present in either one or both ovaries but has also spread to other organs in the pelvis. These organs may include the bladder, rectum, uterus, Fallopian tubes or the sigmoid colon. This stage is again divided into IIA, IIB and IIC.

In stage IIA, the cancer has spread to the uterus or Fallopian tubes but cancerous cells are not yet present in the abdomen. Cancer is also in either one or both ovaries at this stage.

In the next division, stage IIB, the cancer has now spread to other pelvic organs such as the rectum or colon as well as uterus and is in the ovaries.

In stage IIC, the cancer has spread to the organs as noted above in IIB but may also be present in the outer surfaces of one or both ovaries

Stage IIA: With this stage, cancer is present in one or both of the ovaries and has spread into the uterus and/or Fallopian tubes. However, cancer cells are not present in the abdomen.

Stage IIB: With this stage, cancer is present in one or both of the ovaries and has spread to other pelvic organs, as the bladder, colon, rectum, or uterus.

Stage IIC: With this stage, cancer is present in one or both of the ovaries and has spread to either the uterus, Fallopian tubes, bladder, sigmoid colon, or rectum. In addition, cancer cells may also be present on the outer surfaces of one or both ovaries; the outer wall of a cystic ovarian tumor may have ruptured; or cancer cells may have been found in tissue samples from the abdomen.

In this article, we take a look at the importance of learning the causes of lower back pain, especially if it a sharp shooting kind of pain and determining the causes of origin of the pain. So, if you are truly feeling laid-back in the literal sense of the word and have suffered sharp lower back pain more than once recently, perhaps its time to do some quick thinking about what could have brought it on – so you can begin the right course of treatment based on the diagnosis, which needs to be proper and accurate.

Only after a proper medical examination of the person’s past activities, especially ones involving heavy physical labor, can a person’s cause for personal back pain due to injury or other reasons be pinned down accurately. Among the most common reasons triggering off lower back pain are sudden exertion, carrying heavy loads, standing, sitting or lying down in an awkward posture (e.g. such as painting the ceiling with a hand overhead all the time) and bending or twisting in a casual, thoughtless manner – which can happen during exercising as well as during regular household chores.

Sharp lower back pain can also become a chronic condition if not addressed in the initial stages and therefore doctors and medical health experts, including physical trainers and gym instructors advise people against exercising too much or wrongly, without proper knowledge of the right techniques since twisting wrong and doing heavy physical work can also aggravate a mild condition. Sometimes, patients tend to ignore the initial warning signs of a sharp lower back pain thinking it will go away and its not worth bothering over, but this is wrong and needs to be addressed immediately to prevent more severe cases. What many do not realize is that in ignoring the warning signal given by the body to the individual, there is a chance of aggravating an already painful condition and therefore, patient information on the condition is very crucial to serve a timely warning.

If the patient does not recall any of the above scenarios as causes for the lower back pain he or she is suffering, medical opinion should be sought immediately to rule out other possibilities, such as conditions of spinal stenosis (restricted spinal cord and nerve root channels), arthritis, infection in the spine, cancer of the spine or spondylolisthesis.

Also, a doctor is the best person to rule out the possibility of a fracture in the lower back as a potential cause for the sharp pain a patient may be suffering; once the above possibilities have been studied and other acute or chronic areas of the condition have been looked into, then diagnosis is more likely to be accurate and treatment can be started in earnest.

Some of the signs that a lower back pain sufferer may need to put across to his or her doctor for proper diagnosis include a sort of general ache radiating into the lower back, behind and the legs with occasional or steady complaints of numbness, tingling or weakness. Those suffering additional bowel or bladder problems should not delay contacting their doctor as this could mean a more severe case of lower back pain than usual.

Examination of the condition typically includes slow and careful palpation of the spine to determine nature of muscle spasms, displacements/sore points and the same is also carried out for the abdomen to verify the involvement of any organ in the complaint. To determine the exact origin of sharp lower back pain, doctors may also recommend the patient undergoing neurological assessments, lab tests and imaging studies.

You are probably familiar with the naughty children’s rhyme: “Beans, beans, good for the heart/The more you eat, the more you…” The first part is true, and as for the second, well, it can now be cut by up to 70 percent. Beans deserve their reputation for causing flatulence. Flatulence results when carbohydrates (scratches and sugars) arrive in the colon incompletely digested and are fermented by the bacteria there. The fermentation process releases gas. Any incompletely digested carbohydrate – from bagels to pasta – can ferment in the colon and cause gas. But beans are the richest sources of two particular carbohydrates, raffinose and stachyose, that the body cannot digest because humans lack the enzyme to do it.

If gas is a problem for you, do not swear off beans. Instead, boil, rinse and soak them. Boil dried beans in a covered pot for three minutes, then let them stand for two hours. Next pour off the water, add enough new water to cover the beans, then replace this water after two hours and let the beans soak overnight. Rinse them once more before cooking. Or you can add Beano to bean dishes. It contains the missing enzyme that allows the body to get digest raffinose and stachyose. Beano is available at health food stores and some pharmacies and supermarkets.

Why would you want to go to all this trouble just to eat beans? Because they are good for you.

Diabetes. Bean cuisine gives everyone protection from heart disease, but people with diabetes enjoy special bean benefits. Diabetes greatly increases the risk of heart disease, which is an excellent reason for anyone with diabetes to boost their bean consumption. In addition, the soluble fiber in beans also helps keep blood sugar under control.

Heart disease. Beans are a staple of the Mediterranean diet that helps prevent heart disease. Just by eating a half-cup of cooked beans a day for about a month reduces cholesterol an average of 10 percent. The type of bean does not matter – pinto, black, kidney, lentils, garbanzos, soybeans, red, navy, white, baked; they all cut cholesterol. Why? Because they are high in soluble fiber, which helps eliminate cholesterol from the body. Every 1 percent decrease in cholesterol results in a 2 percent decrease in heart attack risk, so one daily serving of beans reduces heart attack risk about 20 percent, especially if it takes the place of meat, cheese or other high-fat foods.

Lung and pancreatic cancer. All beans are high in folic acid, one of the B vitamins. There was a connection between folic acid deficiency and lung cancer. It was found that high levels of the B vitamin in the lung tissue of healthy men, but much lower levels in cancerous lungs. Folic acid can also be found in abundance in green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli. It was also found that compared with people who ate beans rarely or not at all, those who ate them at least once a week enjoyed significant protection from pancreatic cancer.

Neutral tube birth defects. Bean’s high folic acid content also helps prevent potentially fatal birth defects of the spine. Over the last decade, so many studies have shown that folic acid prevents neural tube defects that doctors now recommend folic acid supplements for pregnant women. Beans do not replace recommended folic acid supplementation, but every time a pregnant woman bites into a bean burrito, she is taking a step to prevent these tragic birth defects.

Osteoporosis. Manganese, an essential trace mineral is important for bone strength. Animals deficient in manganese develop severe osteoporosis, and these studies show that women with osteoporosis tend to have low manganese levels. Beans are a rich sources of manganese. So are pineapples, oatmeal, nuts, and tea.

One in six men experience prostate cancer. It is one of the leading causes of death in American men. If left untreated, it can gradually spread to other parts of the body and become irreversible.

Even though you have prostate cancer, you may not notice the symptoms at all especially in the initial stage. If you are over 40 years old, it is recommended that you have your prostate examined to detect any cancer cells.

You can take Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) tests to detect prostate cancer. However, they are not accurate. Always check with your doctor for other prostate examinations.

If you have prostate cancer, your level of PSA will be high enough to be detected. But sometimes, the results can be tampered by other factors which can cause your PSA to rise.

Using a DRE procedure, your doctor can distinguish between prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia (BHP) or prostatitis (inflammation of prostate) which is not cancerous. Your doctor will examine for abnormality of the prostate by putting his finger into your anus. By scrutinizing the size, shape, and texture of the prostate, it will reveal whether the prostate is in good health or not.

These symptoms may not signify that you have prostate cancer. Some of the common signs in the early stage that you need to be aware of are:

1. Problem in urinating

2. Increased urination at night

3. Pain during urination

4. Presence of blood in the urine

5. Painful ejaculation

6. Erectile dysfunction

When the cancer spreads to bone and lymph nodes, you will feel pain in your lower back, spine, pelvis, upper thighs, and ribs. This may also weaken your legs and lead to involuntary urination or defecation.

Sometimes, prostate cancer symptoms mimic BHP. Difficulty and increased night time urination are usually accompanied with BHP.

There are several prostate cancer treatments to choose from. Choice of treatment depends on your doctor’s advice. Among the treatments are prostate radiation therapy, chemotherapy, active surveillance and surgery.

Early detection of prostate cancer can prevent unnecessary surgery or radiation therapy. You can seek alternative treatment instead. Be aware of these symptoms and signs. It is not something you can ignore even though they are mild and are not affecting your daily routines. Taking care of your prostate health can help you enjoy your retirement years happily.

If the tuberculosis bacilli lie dormant in the body, a person does not get the symptoms of the disease and he cannot spread it to others. However, once the bacilli get active, the symptoms begin to appear and at this point the person is infectious and can spread the disease to others.

Overview of the Symptoms of Tuberculosis:
The most common organ to be infected by tuberculosis bacilli are the lungs. The symptoms begin gradually and most people do not notice them because they are mild. The most common symptoms of tuberculosis of the lungs are as follows:

o Fever
o Chills
o Night sweats
o Cough with thick sputum, which can sometimes be bloody
o Fatigue
o Weakness
o Loss of appetite
o Loss of weight for no apparent reason
o Chest pain
o Shortness of breath

Many of these symptoms are similar to those of pneumonia and lung cancer. That is why it is best to visit a doctor and get yourself tested for tuberculosis before jumping to any conclusions.

The symptoms of tuberculosis in other organs depend on the area of infection. For instance, tuberculosis of the spine will lead to back pain; while that of the lymph nodes will lead to swelling of the neck.

Most symptoms are not obvious until the disease reaches an advanced stage. And, many times the symptoms are attributed to another disease or disorder and people neglect going to a doctor.

Most people who get infected with tuberculosis bacilli will get the disease in the first few years, but it is quite possible for the bacilli to lie dormant in the body for years before causing an infection.

Ovarian Cancer is not as widely publicized as breast cancer, so many people are left searching online and through books for more information on symptoms, survival rates, warning signs, and stages. This article will break down the staging and explain what each different one means.

Stage 1: This of course is the earliest form of cancer. In this stage, cancer is found in one or both ovaries. It is further divided into the following sub-stages.

1A: 1 ovary involved, no ascites (fluid in the abdomen), no tumor on external surface.

1B: Both ovaries involved, no ascites, no tumor on external surface.

1C: Cancer is present in either one or both ovaries but with tumor on the surface, ascites, malignant cells in fluid or lining of abdomen.

Stage 2: This stage is also considered early. Most diagnoses are made in stages 3 and 4. One or both ovaries are involved, but cancer has spread to other pelvic regions.

2A: Extension to uterus and/or tubes.

2B: One or both ovaries and extension to other pelvic organs.

2C: Same as 2A or 2B but with addition of tumor on the surface of one or both ovaries, capsule rupture, or ascites.

Stage 3: Cancer tumor involving one or both ovaries with extension to the abdomen.

3A: One or both ovaries and extension to small area of abdomen.

3B: Metastasis or extension to the peritoneum, or abdominal cavity lining.

3C: Cancer in one or both ovaries, extension to peritoneum, involvement of lymph nodes.

Stage 4: Most advanced stage of disease. Distant metastases to other parts of the body beyond the abdomen such as liver and lungs.

Ovarian cancer diagnosis is usually made in the latter stages due to the disease’s nonspecific symptoms. Studies have shown that only about 20% are diagnosed at stage I, 5% stage II, 58% stage III, and 17% stage IV. Routine checkups and being alert for early signs and symptoms are key.

Prostate cancer is the second most fatal male cancer. Lung cancer is the first. In the U.S. alone, there are 100,000 new cases each year, and 30,000 deaths. Its incidence increases with age, and is most common in the 60 to 80 age group. One in 11 men will suffer from the disease and it is on the increase; nobody knows why.

One theory suggests environmental causes, e.g., Japanese men living in Japan have a low rate of prostate cancer. If they move to Hawaii, this low rate soars, though it stays below the rate for the native population. A recent British study suggests lack of regular ejaculation increases the risk.

Black men in the U.S have the highest rate in the world. This only happened in the last few decades. A dietary factor may be over-consumption of saturated fats, which have the ability to change hormones in the body. Eat carrots for beta-carotene, which now seem to be an anti-cancer food.

Millions of men over age 50 have tiny cancer lumps in the prostate which are harmless and inactive (dormant). They appear benign. They do not grow. Death from natural causes occurs in the natural time span. Medical opinion is divided over whether to remove these inactive lumps or not. There is a risk surgery will activate dormant cells which then start to grow. Prostate cancer can be treated and cured if it is detected early enough. It would seem a prudent option to have regular colo-rectal examinations.

Cancer Therapy
Malignant prostate cancer occurs mainly over age 60. Unhappily, in many cases, there are no obvious first signs. Pain comes on suddenly, in weeks rather than months. It hurts just above the pubic hairline, in the groin, or lower spine. Pain can spread to the legs. Until recently, the disease was rarely diagnosed until it was advanced, and little could be done. Regular colo-rectal check-ups now avoid this unhappy state.

Radical Prostatectomy

This is surgical removal of the entire prostate and seminal glands. The operation saves life, but the side effects can be severe. Impotence usually follows in men over age 70. In younger men, potency generally returns within a year. At age 40 plus, 90 percent of men become potent again. At age 50 plus, it is 80 percent. At age 60 plus, 60 percent. Sadly, within all-age groups, 2.5 percent to 5 percent of men suffer some degree of incontinence.

Radiation Therapy
There are a variety of ways in which radiation therapy is used”. These depend upon the man’s general health and how far the tumor has progressed. One type of radiotherapy is external beam radiation. The beam can be sharply focused on the tumor which avoids damage to nearby tissues. The course is spread over six to 1 seven weeks. High doses of rads are involved. Only 50 percent of all-age men become impotent. But there is a chance radiation therapy does not destroy all the tumor cells.

Hormone Therapy
If the female hormone estrogen is given, it stops testosterone production. Estrogen therapy can be an effective way to make the tumor regress. But the high doses put a strain on blood circulation. They increase the risk of blood clots in the heart or brain. Some surgeons recommend castration; both testicles are removed to stop further hormone production. Though this may seem unacceptable, it is an appropriate choice in very grave illness.

It is hoped new drugs in the trial stage will have the same effects as estrogen. They involve chemical castration without affecting blood circulation. They act by stopping the pituitary from producing luteinizing hormone which blocks the production of testosterone. And it is hoped a new combination therapy may be effective for milder cases. This is a very brief overview. If prostate cancer is diagnosed, ring 1-800-4-CANCER of the Cancer Information Service for more detailed information. Or send for free booklets by the Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service and National Institutes of Health.

Yoga practitioners develop self observation skills even during the relaxation at the end of the yoga class. Yogic relaxation exercises are many, and vary from progressive muscle relaxation to breath awareness.

There is however a systematic relaxation of the many body parts that deeply relaxes body and brain, and can infuse the body with consciousness even at a cellular level. Where attention goes, energy follows. Disconnection from the body is one cause of illness. This conscious and felt connection with more than 100 body parts during yogic relaxation, infuses the parts with life energy, also called chi, or prana.

Researchers, from Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) and Bangalore Institute of Oncology (BIO), tested yoga relaxation techniques on those living with breast cancer in second and third stage and found that the exercises were not only successful in fighting the side effects of the ailment, but also helped maintain immunity levels to fight the disease.

Yoga techniques include poses, breathing, hand positions, meditation, self study and relaxation. Singling out relaxation, there are at least ten yogic relaxation techniques to quiet the mind and relax muscle tension. Benefits from relaxing mind and body affect us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. They include:

Increase ability to focus Increase ability to communicate with others Contributes to increased energy levels Increased self acceptance and inner peace Increased resistance to anticipated stress
Yoga becomes therapeutic when yoga techniques are selected and modified to suit your needs. You become deeply involved as you observe and assess the effect of the practice on your body and mind. Self-observation and self assessment can or must be an ongoing practice, to keep in touch with all aspects of our being.

In a formal yoga on the mat practice, we can develop our self observation skills by paying attention to many intricate details of our physical body. “Are my shoulders stabilized?” Or on the other hand, we may find that simply being aware of and feeling whether we are maintaining length in the spine, suffice for self assessment of the physical.

Maintaining awareness of and feeling the movement of breath while we hold a pose, also develops our self-observation skills. And on a more subtle level, awareness and self assessment of how grounded we are, or how much lightness we feel is the first step to keeping us balanced energetically when in the pose.

On deeper levels, as we remain steady in the pose, we might observe and feel how much sadness our heart holds, and/or how much determination we feel. The longer we are able to hold and breathe easily in the pose, we may observe ourselves enveloped with feelings of softness, surrender or courage.

The more we are able to connect with all levels of our being, i.e. physical, energetic, mental emotional, spiritual, the more we improve the health of our immune system and foster the sense of well being. Energy follows our attention.

What steps will you take today to infuse your physical body, mind and emotions with consciousness?

Ovarian Cancer is a women’s disease and it is on the rise. We as women have to take care of ourselves every single day. Even though no matter how much health food we eat and how much we exercise unfortunately, sometimes it’s not enough.

Ovaries are reproductive glands that produce the egg. There is one ovary on each side of the uterus in the pelvis. The egg travels through the fallopian tube and fertilizes into a baby. Ovarian Cancer begins in the ovaries. Many tumors can develop in the ovaries. Most of these are non cancerous, they can be removed by removing part of the ovary, the tumor or the ovary itself. If it is a cancerous tumor it can spread throughout the body and can be more complicated.

Your ovaries have three kinds of tissue:

-Epithelial cells that cover the ovary.
-Germs cells which are found in the ovary and develop into eggs that are released into the fallopian tube that are released every month.
-Stromal cells which develops most of the female’s hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Tumors are named depending on which cells the tumor came from. It could be benign (no cancerous) and cancerous. There three ways to tell what kind of tumor it is by checking all three of tissues.

-The Epithelial tumor covers most of the ovary. Most tumors that are found turn out to be this tumor.
-The Germ cell tumor comes from part where the eggs develop in the ovary.
-Stromal cell tumor comes from the connective tissue that holds the ovaries together.

Epithelial tumors usually do not spread and or lead to serious illness. Malignant tumors are cancerous and can spread to certain parts of the body. Noncanerous tumors are different from malignant cancer they do not grow into the connective tissue and to the stomach. The benign tumor can develop at a young age and even though it can be life-threatening, in most cases it is not. Epithelial ovarian cancer is called carcinomas. 85%-90% of ovarian cancer is epithelial. Here are the different types of ovarian cancer.

Fallopian tube cancer- Is very rare; it usually carries the same symptoms as ovarian cancer. It starts in the tube which carries the egg from the ovary to the uterus. The survival rate is about the same also.

Germ Cell Tumor- The germ cells form the eggs. Some tumors of this sort can be benign. Sometimes it can be life-threatening, only 5% of germ cell tumors are ovarian cancer.

Teratoma- Are germ cell cancers, they are the most common cancers. They usually affect women in their forties and teens, it is called a dermoid cyst, because it looks like skin. It can have different types of tissues like bones, hair and teeth. It can be removed by surgery.

Dysgerminoma- Is a common cancer as well. It affects women in their twenties and teens. It usually is cancerous; some do not grow or grow to fast. About 75% of patients have surgery to remove the ovary if it has spread.

Stromal Tumors- Are mostly found in women in their fifties. These tumors make up about 5%-7% of ovarian cancer. 5% of young girls develop this tumor. The symptoms are abnormal vagina bleeding, something like a period occurring after menopause. This happens because the tumor may cause female hormones; it can also cause breast development and early menstruation in girls.

Ovarian Cysts- Are a build up of fluid in the ovaries. They are usually not life-threatening in women that are ovulating and not going through menopause. If it produces while you are going through menopause and in a girl who has not started having her periods being concerned maybe an option. Your doctor will want to do a check-up after your cycle if you have a cyst. The doctor might want to wait a few months to see if it will go away. The only way to tell if the cyst is malignant, they will have to take it out and examine it. Some cancers can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and medications.

Be healthy, know your body and get regular check-ups.